VERO BEACH — The city is speaking with a private company about possibly managing the Leisure Square pool as it continues to look at ways to trim expenses.

Vero Beach Recreation Director Rob Slezak said he expects to receive a preliminary proposal next week from USA Pools. The company manages various facilities throughout the U.S., although no other municipal facility in Florida, said Slezak.

Slezak said the city would want to maintain at least the same level of service at the pool and hours offered now. He said it is possible the company could come up with some other revenue-enhancing ideas for the facility.

The pool costs the city $176,107 to operate in the last budget year, according to figures Slezak gave to the city's Recreation Commission last week. Revenues of $24,364 only covered 14 percent of that cost.

City Manager Jim O'Connor asked Slezak to look into the company after receiving a letter from one of its representatives, Josh Cardona, last month.

In the letter, Cardona wrote "we can save you and your City a great deal of money while simultaneously increasing participation."

In 2009, city staff proposed closing the pool at the Leisure Square recreation facility at 3705 16th St. for up to seven months to save about $70,000. That proposal died after representatives from groups that use the pool protested.

The last two years, however, the city has closed the pool for three weeks around the Christmas season, when Slezak said there is little use of the facility. St. Edward's School had made its pool available for Leisure Square swimmers during this time for a daily fee.

Last year, the City Council approved O'Connor's plan to farm out laboratory services that were previously done in-house by the water and sewer department. That move was expected to save the department $250,000 to $300,000 annually.

O'Connor also is investigating having a private company do at least some of the work handled by the city garage with the anticipated sale of the city's electric utility. He said the city also may consider outsourcing other city services, such as mowing city properties.